DESS FOR ABRAHA WA ASBAHA

In November of 2006, DESS decided to get involved in the project 'Axum-Africa Children's Educational Aid'. The project, in Axum Ethiopia, was started by Harego Ingers and Karen Spiteri in 2005, later to be joined by Cassale Sherriff, and involves an elementary school, Abraha Wa Asbaha (AWA) and an orphanage, Saint Yared Child Care Center (Please see their website www.axum-africa.org for more information).

Click here to meet the Axum-Africa Committee and see what they've been up to.

 

In April 2007, Miss C Andersson accompanied Cassale Sherriff, Karen Spiteri and Harego Ingers to Ethiopia in order to get first hand experience of Axum. She not only visited the orphanage, but introduced herself and DESS to the teachers and students of Abraha Wa Asbaha, giving them the cards and letters written by the children at DESS. Having met the various members of staff and the children, Miss Andersson was able to start an affiliation between the two schools.

Upon her return, Miss Andersson held several assemblies whereby video footage was shown illustrating not only the eager, ambitious and beautiful children of Axum, but more importantly the imminent need for improved water and toilet facilities in the school.

Our children were incredibly moved by what they saw, and enthusiasm grew to raise enough money to help provide running water for Abraha Wa Asbaha. Activities included a sponsored three-legged walk, a cake sale and a coin trail which was done in the shape of the African continent. The children were incredibly generous, donating their own loose change and pocket money in order to help. By the end of the school year, DESS had managed to raise just under AED 30,000, but with a total of AED 70,000 needed, the upcoming year will be vital in bringing more ideas forward in order to raise the rest.

 

We feel that our students really benefit from understanding other living conditions of children in the world. As we want this project to be a long-term one, we intend for our children to have regular contact with the children at AWA so that they can watch each other grow up as they pass through the school.

We shall also be organising other fundraising events this year and look forward to your continued support.

If you would like further information or would like to make a donation, please contact Carolina Andersson, Year 1 teacher at DESS on mobile no. 050-8751714 or email oh_carolina01@hotmail.com

Page updated 31/01/2008